Independent retailers set for second Vodafone boycott

Independent Spar retailer Kevin Hunt, who is organising the campaign, claims more than 5,000 stores across the UK supported his first boycott on 11 July.

He said: “We are on target to get 10,000 stores to switch off next Friday and Saturday.”

Symbol group Spar UK is backing the protests, with more than 1,000 stores joining the first day of action.

Trading director Chris Lewis said: “From our perspective, we proved that boycotting the sales of Vodafone products was feasible. We are going to support Kevin with his second phase of action and will again be boycotting Vodafone products on Friday and Saturday.

“Post Offices, forecourts, convenience stores, newsagents, off licences and independents have now joined Kevin's campaign via his website www.topupratecut.biz.

He expected more Spar stores to join this week's boycott, adding that the previous switch-off caused Vodafone sales by as much as 76%, based on provisional figures.

Vodafone have said in their response that they will not process another rate cut for two years.

But Lewis claimed this indicates that Vodafone's long-term strategy will probably be to continue reducing rates. “History shows that when one network reduces, the rest will follow, so the long-term picture is bleak,” he said.

“This undermines the business model for the category, and potentially threatens the long-term future of the service providers such as PayPoint and PayZone, as what little profit retailers make mainly comes from the top-up area, not utilities.”